Every year on (or around) March 17th some celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. It is a very popular holiday especially around WHB, even people who aren’t Irish look forward to St. Patrick’s Day and the parade. Some who do celebrate don’t really know what they are celebrating.

According to an article from timeanddate.com, “St. Patrick’s Day is a global celebration of Irish culture on or around March 17th. It particularly remembers St Patrick, one of Ireland’s patron saints, who ministered Christianity in Ireland during the fifth century.”

The date March 17th is significant to this holiday because St Patrick is said to have died on this day. The article also states that, “he grew up in Roman Britain, but was captured by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland as a slave when he was a young adult. After some years he returned to his family and entered the church, like his father and grandfather before him.” The article continued, “St Patrick later returned to Ireland as a missionary.”

A popular symbol involved with St. Patrick’s Day is the shamrock. The shamrock is the leaf of a clover plant and it is a symbol of Holy Trinity (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit).

On a holiday like Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter etc. there are common traditions that are known to most people. But a question associated with St. Patrick’s Day a lot is what do people do?

To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day people will wear an item of green clothing, and have parties with Irish foods and drinks that are dyed in green food coloring. Many popular Irish foods and drinks include: Irish brown bread, corned beef and cabbage, Irish coffee, Irish stew and Irish potato soup. There are many parades held on and around St. Patricks Day which is a way many chose to celebrate too.

St. Patrick’s Day is a very significant and important holiday! If anyone missed the WHB parade, they can still attend the Hampton Bays parade Saturday, March 21st or the Montauk Parade Sunday, March 22nd. Remember to stay safe and have fun.